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The 9 Best Cities for Millennials

A variety of job opportunities, affordability, and diverse communities are among the top elements that Millennials seek when relocating within the U.S.

Omar Sommereyns, Monster Contributor
The 9 Best Cities for Millennials

What do Millennials really want out of their cities? This question has become all the more relevant as this generation—now exceeding Baby Boomers in size in terms of adults living in the U.S.—contains many people in their 30s who may want to settle down with a solid career, a family, and a permanent home. But what matters most to them when relocating and choosing one place over another? What constitutes the best cities for Millennials? Monster set out to determine what entices today’s largest adult demographic.

How We Selected Our List of the Best Cities for Millennials

Culling data from a few recent reports and surveys, including a trend spotlight on Millennial relocation by Livability.com, we’ve capsulized a list of the nine best cities for Millennials based on the following criteria:

  • Lots of job opportunities
  • Quality-of-life attractions, such as art, culture, and outdoor activities
  • Affordability or lower cost of living
  • Diversity on multiple levels
  • Green spaces, public transportation, and walkable or bike-friendly pathways

Monster’s Picks: 9 of the Best Cities for Millennials

We’re not listing these cities in any particular order. Rather, we covered several regions throughout the country while giving you an idea of what cities currently have the most favorable combinations of the factors mentioned above, so that you can freely decide which one is best for you. And we didn’t go for the big usual suspects either (such as New York City and San Francisco)—especially since housing costs there are consistently on the rise.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Fittingly dubbed the “Scenic City”—given its location at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, along the Tennessee River—Chattanooga is a mid-sized municipality that offers both the pleasures of outdoor recreation and the convenience of city life. But what’s most appealing to Millennials here is the very welcoming housing cost, which is 35.1% lower than the rest of the country—so the area’s ideal for first-time home buyers. The local economy is quite strong too, and should remain so for a while, with an expected future job-growth rate of 44.5% over the next decade—10% higher than the U.S. average.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

A dynamo for education in the Northeast—where both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are located—Cambridge generally ranks high among the best cities for Millennials, despite its elevated cost of living. The latter is balanced out by the area’s history, numerous cultural institutions, pedestrian- and bike-friendly lanes, and quality-of-life advantages (such as many cafés, bars, bookstores, and over 80 parks and open spaces). While some rents and home prices can be costly, the economy is predicted to see some healthy growth over the next 10 years, as it continues to draw in young professionals for job openings both locally and in neighboring Boston.

Phoenix, Arizona

A fast-growing city in the Southwest, Phoenix meshes its metropolitan offerings with an overall relaxed, resort-destination vibe. Residents here also tout the mild weather in fall and winter, distinctive eateries, a lively nightlife scene, the bustling Downtown Phoenix, and countless occasions to view amazing sunsets (at a rooftop bar, kayaking on Lake Pleasant, or even in a hot-air balloon). Housing costs have gone up, but that can be mitigated by the abundance of employment opportunities, as projections for the local economy are positive—with a higher-than-U.S.-average job-growth rate of 48.2%.

Austin, Texas

With enough variation when it comes to socioeconomic, cultural, and religious diversity, Austin is often included on lists of best cities for Millennials as a top choice in Texas. Loaded with food, nightlife, and music venues (and still host to the yearly South by Southwest (SXSW) conference and festivals, which bring together the leading-edge in tech, film, and music), Austin is simply tailor-built for young professionals who like to have fun. The economic forecast seems to be in good shape too, with an estimated job-growth rate of 47% (higher than the U.S. average of 33.5%) over the next decade.

Denver, Colorado

Any Millennial with a penchant for the outdoors would feel right at home in Denver, which has easy access to everything from awe-inspiring wildlife refuges to the magnificent ski-and-snowboard terrains of the Rocky Mountains. The job market here is quite sturdy too, with a higher-than-national-average growth rate of 45%. And the city itself is chock-full of quality-of-life goodies—from a thriving downtown area to assorted museums, restaurants, breweries, performing arts venues, sports facilities, hundreds of green spaces, and the massive City Park (which encompasses two lakes, boat rentals, playgrounds, a science museum, and the Denver Zoo).

Cape Coral, Florida

For paradisal coastal living in Southwest Florida, Cape Coral hits the spot. It’s one of the largest cities between Tampa and Miami, but it’s got its very own escapist ambience, with lots of waterfront-housing along its canals, a main sandy beach, and wanderlust-routes to Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Retirees have typically been known to live here, but the Millennial population is growing throughout the region, with first-time home-buyers being lured by recent residential projects and hospitality developments. Plus, predictions for local job-growth are at a hardy 41%, with residents making use of additional work possibilities in Fort Myers nearby and Naples further south.

Seattle, Washington

Even if housing can be expensive and the rainy season may be a dealbreaker for some people, Seattle is still one of the best cities for Millennials. That’s partly thanks to its powerful job market (which is not only driven by the Amazon and Microsoft headquarters here), but also to its cosmopolitan makeup and cultural roots (many musicians—from Jimi Hendrix to Nirvana and Macklemore—came from Seattle). Importantly, residents love the mix of full-scale city life and its location on the Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, which provides a unique fusion of water, mountains, parks, and forests for all to enjoy.

Santa Rosa, California

The cost of living in California is generally on the higher end, so that’s unavoidable. But if you’re going to live close to Silicon Valley, why not plant yourself amidst the beautiful Sonoma County Wine Country? Santa Rosa is only about 50 miles north of San Francisco, with a job-growth outlook that’s a bit higher than the national average (although you can always commute to—or work remotely for—high-paying jobs in SF too). And you’ve got hiking trails in the Trione-Annadel State Park, live shows at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, the Safari West wildlife preserve, and the awesomeness of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center for the innumerable Peanuts fans out there.

Des Moines, IA

Looking for more affordability? Want to buy your first house or apartment at a reasonable price in a city with enough job opportunities? Try Des Moines, Iowa’s capital. Here’s a place that has the amenities of a bigger city, but also the sense of community of smaller American towns. Furthermore, it’s one of the best cities for Millennials because it has a steadily growing economy too, with an emerging tech sector and a mentality that rewards innovation. But when it comes to an approachable cost of living and getting the most value for your money out of a city in the Midwest, Des Moines is first-rate—with a median housing cost that’s 39.1% lower than the rest of the nation.

Progress to Success in Your New City With Monster’s Help

Our list of best cities for Millennials should give you some compelling choices if you’re aiming to move to a new city and advance your career. But this is just the beginning, as we have many more assets to guide you along the way once you join us as a member. So create a free profile—which only takes a few minutes—and check out our postings for jobs in every industry and city. You’re bound to find what you need. Plus, we’ll send you exclusive intel about your profession, as well as customized alerts for job openings near your new home.


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